Meet the team

The Buckley family

Brief histories

EVERLEY:
'Lynch-pin’ and ‘backroom boy’, Everley has never ridden (well twice can’t really be counted as regular!), without his help, nothing would get fed in a morning, and all those silly little maintenance jobs would struggle to get done. He is in charge of turning the livery horses out - as the downside of our beautiful site in the Lake District is that they must cross the road. Nothing gets away from Everley!

JUDITH:
Judith is a BHS Intermediate Instructor and has always been involved with coaching and competing, formerly producing young show jumpers with her sister Lorraine. Taking a break when our family was young, and then fulfilling a lifelong ambition to event in her second competitive career! Taking clients horses up to Advanced and 2* international level before hanging up her boots to drive an ever enthusiastic son around the countryside. Thank goodness Grandfather insisted that all his children should pass their HGV as soon as old enough. By this time Judith had become a UKCC level 2 (coach) and British Horse Society Intermediate Instructor. Always in demand as a coach, but preferring now to stay at home and ‘hold the fort’ when Simon is away. There are always animals on the yard for schooling and breaking.

NICK:
Our eldest son Nick is the farmer/contractor. Although he rode until he was 14, he would tell you that his Mother scared him off riding, but in truth he was always more interested in 4 wheels ...NOT 4 legs!...running the sheep side of the farm and his own business with his tractors, balers and digger. Nick makes all the haylage that we use on the farm. This ensures that we have first call on machinery and that the quality of our forage is at its optimum for horses.

SIMON:
Rode ponies at top level. 1999 Junior European team gold in Sweden.
2001: won Newcomers final at the last Wembley HOYS aged 18.

Simon has his PTT and Pony club A test and is currently studying for Intermediate. He competes in Show jumping discipline up to Grand Prix level. 2008 has been his most successful year to date with results both at home and abroad. His season started with a long road trip to Portugal for 6weeks in Feb/March. This really set his horses on the right foot for the show circuit nationally. He turned his attention to the national county show circuit, with good wins at the Great Yorkshire and Royal Highland, and once again appearing in young horse final’s at horse of the year show culminating in his highest ranking to date at 36 in the country. In November he secured a 3 year sponsorship deal with Equine Products UK. This is a company specializing in Equine Nutritional Products. www.equineproducts-ukltd.com. Simon also receives rug sponsorship from a long established Kendal firm www.equester.com

VICTORIA:
Our youngest! Sometimes we think we must have brought the wrong child home! Our beautiful daughter was always scared of the animals on the farm - the cows were too big, the sheep too noisy and the horses… Well, having her friends on the yard with their ponies was a reason to try, but by 12 she was well and truly a DANCER! She followed her feet to theatre college and completed an Honours degree in Musical Theatre.

Our staff... Leah O'Brien, Aisla Reeve, Sarah Grindey and Ruth Turner.

Meet the horses on the yard

WORRIOR VAN DINGESHOF

9 year old, grey gelding. By Nonstop. Owned by Simon. 4th overall in Renault Jump Series. Winner of 2 rounds at Royal Highland and Great Yorkshire Shows. Placed in several Grand Prix classes, 2nd at Royal Highland. Placed in several Grand prix’s in Comporta (Portugal) 08.

SILVANO

9 Year old Dutch bred chestnut gelding. By Epilot. Owned by the Heath family of Penrith. www.southwaitegreenmill.com. Competed at Hoys 05 and 06. Finalist in Newcomers, six year old, Grade C and Foxhunter finals respectively. Competed successfully in Portugal 08.

JERICHO

6year old Holstein stallion. By Caretino. Owned by Gordon Graham of Cowan Joinery. Qualified Foxhunter and Grade C Final at Horse of the year show. Competed in Six year old classes Portugal 08. www.cowanjoinery.co.uk

WIZARDLEA HFS

5 year old, 16.2 grey gelding. By Vangelis S. Owned by Simon. Showing fantastic ability in 5 year old classes. A real top prospect for Grand Prix level jumping.

CASSANETTE HFS

5 year old, 16.1 bay mare. Westfalian. By Count Basie. Owned by Simon. Started her career under saddle. Already jumping double clears at newcomers’ level. Great potential in jumping or eventing.

SUMA’S CIDER

Owned by Simon. Just starting her career under saddle. Excellent movement and type.

SUMA’S EVITA

Owned by Simon. Just starting her career under saddle. Excellent movement and type.

LUXURY

4 year old, 16.1 bay mare. By LuxZ x Grannus. Owned by the Heath family of Penrith. Broken and riding. Starting her career in competition. A real prospect for the future.

HFS VALENTINO

3 year old I.S.H: Colt. By Heartbreaker. Owned by the Buckley family. His dam was bred by the Irish Sport Horse Development programme, out of the iconic mare, Chinatown, by the equally influential stallion Concorde. Just broken and just approved as a licensed stallion with the Anglo European studbook. A Star of the future both in competition and breeding at Hill Farm.

Meet the young stock

3 year old gelding. By VDL Taloubet x Flagmount Diamond. Big, bay and a lovely mover 2 year old gelding. ByCamiro de Haar Z. Another big, bright bay.
2 year old grey mare. By Billy Congo x Concorde. ½ Sister to Wizardlea, hope she’s as good. 2 year old chestnut filly. ByMaximum Clearance. Nice WHP type. Not going to be big enough for us!
1 year old chestnut colt. By Balou de Rouet xWatzman. Our first trip into Germany brought ‘Balou & Peri.’
1 year old chestnut colt. By Perigeux x Drosselklang.
Foal. Bay colt. By Numero Unox Concorde. Another Wizardlea sibling.
Foal. Chestnut Filly. By Balou de Rouet x Nimmerdor. From the same British breeder.